Warriors Arise: April 10, 2023
1 Chronicles 16:7-29 (NKJV) On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord:
8 Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
10 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
11 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
13 O seed of Israel His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
17 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
19 When you were few in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
20 When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
22 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
24 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
25 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
27 Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.
28 Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
What is the best offering you and I can give the Lord?
I believe we can find it tucked away in Epheisains 5:2. I have focused on the first verse in that chapter many times. It is one of my life verse, "Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children." I am not looking to be God. I am looking at God, watching His move, listening to His instruction, and studying Him in a way that a child would study their parent and want to be just like them. When we study God through the eyes of a child, as His child, there is a sense of awe and wonder. There is a reverence in our heart toward Him. There is love lavished back to Him, just like my children want to color or paint pictures for me or cook for me or doing something that would be a wonderful event together and that will make for secure bonding or memories. I have dwelled so much on verse one, it shadowed verse 2. I believe verse 2 is what answers the beginning questions: What is the best offering you and I can give the Lord?
Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Thankfully, you and I will never have to die on a cross for our sins as an offering to God. Jesus gave His life by offering Himself as our sacrifice. So how would this relate to you and I? God isn't asked us for a monetary offering. He is asking for each one of us to trust Him with our lives. Jesus is the example. He offered His life. He did what He was called to do, when He was called.
The best offering you and I can give God is ourselves. How do we know if we are giving ourselves as an offering? It will be more than you want to give. It will stretch you to do more than you want to do. There will be a cost. It has to be an offering with no limits. If God asked you to do something, you would do it. You may have to do it with the mindset, "I am offering myself in this position or capacity even though it takes me outside my comfort zone. I am offering myself in this position or capacity even though it challenges me in areas I don't want to grow. I am offering myself in this position or capacity even though it costs me more than I want to give. I am offering myself in this position or capacity even though it means I am going to need to give up my personal time or connections. I am offering myself in this position or capacity even though it means it will take time away from others things I want to be done."
The best offering you and I can give God is ourselves. It does mean life will shift. Jesus is our example. Thankfully, none of us are called to die on the cross for someone else's sins. Thankful, we have Jesus showing us how to offer ourselves and the Holy Spirit empowering us to be faithful in our offering.
Father, I desire to be flexible. I want to surrender my life for what You have called me to do. I give my life as an offering to You. What would You have me do? How can I be a part of getting the Gospel message to the lost? I give my life as an offering for Your plans for my life. I surrender. I pray my life is a sweet aroma to You in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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